Stigmella propalaea facts for kids

The Stigmella propalaea is a tiny moth that belongs to the Nepticulidae family. This special moth is found only in New Zealand. When scientists talk about its safety, they say it is "Data Deficient." This means they don't have enough information to know if it's in danger or not.

About This Moth

Who Discovered It?

A scientist named Edward Meyrick first described this moth in 1889. He found a specimen near Arthur's Pass in New Zealand, about 600 meters (almost 2,000 feet) above sea level. When he first named it, he called it Nepticula propalaea.

Later, in 1928, another scientist named George Hudson wrote about this moth in his book, The Butterflies and Moths of New Zealand. He also used the name Nepticula propalaea.

What's in a Name?

In 1988, John S. Dugdale changed the moth's scientific name. He moved it to a different group, or genus, called Stigmella. So, its full scientific name became Stigmella propalaea.

The very first moth specimen Meyrick used to describe the species is called a holotype. This special specimen is kept safe at the Natural History Museum, London. However, this particular holotype is not in very good condition. It's also the only known specimen of this moth, which makes it hard for scientists to study it.

What Does It Look Like?

The Stigmella propalaea is a small moth, about 7 millimeters long. That's less than half an inch! Its head, mouthparts (palpi), antennae, and body (thorax) are a yellowish-white color. Its belly (abdomen) is light gray. The legs are also yellowish-white, but the front legs are a bit darker.

Its front wings are shaped like a spear. They are yellowish-white with some brownish spots. There are three dark spots on each front wing: one near the start, one in the middle, and one just before the tip. The fringes of hair along the edges of the wings are also yellowish-white. The back wings are light gray with grayish-white fringes.

Where Does It Live?

This moth is endemic to New Zealand. This means it naturally lives nowhere else in the world. So far, scientists have only found it in one place: Arthur's Pass, where it was first discovered.

Life and Behavior

When Can You See It?

Adult Stigmella propalaea moths are active and flying around in January. This is when they are "on the wing."

Missing Females

It's interesting to note that scientists have only ever found male Stigmella propalaea moths. The female of this species has never been collected or seen! This makes it even harder to learn about their reproduction and life cycle.

Conservation Status

The Stigmella propalaea moth has a special conservation status in New Zealand: "Data Deficient." This classification comes from the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

"Data Deficient" means that scientists don't have enough information about this moth to know if its population is healthy or if it's at risk. They need more research and more sightings of the moth to understand its true conservation needs.